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3 SheetsS heet 1. J. H. BUYER.

SWITCH IRON.

(No Model.)

, No. 588,263. Patented Aug. 17,1897.

WITNESSES x9, ,d/M/oy;

A tt'orm a 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. H; BOYER.

SWITCH IRON.

Patented Aug. 17,1897.

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(No Model.)

(No Model.) a ssssss Sheet 3.

J. H. BOYER.

SWITOH IRON. No. 588,263. Patented'Au g. 17,1897.

" is provided at its upper end with a handle 8 ing the tongue of the switch as the car ap- PATENT me a JOHN H. BOYER, OF PHILADELPHIA,

PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO JAMES E. WVILLIAMS, OF SAME PLACE.

SWITCH-IRON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 588,263,6late d. August 17, 1897.

Application filed February 6, 1897.

To all whom it may concern: I Beitknown-that I, JOHN H. BOYER, a citize of theUnited States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch-Irons; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the-art to which it appertains to make and use the same. This invention has reference to a novel construction in a switch-iron or device for operating switches,thc object being to provide a device which is adapted especially for use in connection with street-railways for turnproaches the swinging end thereof and without stopping the movement of the car.

The invention consists in the features of construction hereinafter fully'described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a car and a portion of a track, illustrating this improvement. In this view the parts are shown in full lines in the position they assume when the switchtongue is about to be turned and in dotted lines in their normal condition. Fig. 2is a plan view of the switch with the car shown in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is an end view of a car, showing my device applied thereto. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the switch-throwing device. Fig. 5 is abottom view of the same. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the-guide 6.

Referring now to said drawings, 1 indicates the main rail, 2 the guide-rail, and 3 the frog. The tongue i is pivoted between the rails of the frog in the usual manner. The car-platform is indicated by 5 and is provided with an upright guide 6 to receive the shaft 7 of the switch-operatin g mechanism. This shaft and at its lower end with a rearwardly-ezrtending arm-9. Near the lower end of the Serial No. 622,271. (No'm det) a plow 12. This plow is thin enough to'enter between the main and guide rails and is tapered at its forward end to enter easily between the point of the tongue and one of the sides of the frog. The said plow is pivoted near its forward end, so that as the shaft is turned on its axis the forward sharpened end of the plow is thrownto one side or other, so that it enters easily between the point of the tongue and the sides of the frog. There is a spring between the plow and the arm 9, that holds the .said plow normally in alinement with the said arm. The said shaft 7 is provided with a lug 13, while the guide 6 is provided with a groove 14, through which the lug passes for the purpose of guiding the arm at the lower endof the shaft in an approximate position for throwing the plow between the main and guide rails. When the shaft is depressed, however, this guide-groove 14 is enlarged, so that the shaft can be turned slightly to throw the point of the plow to one side or the other, as is obvious. The upper end of the guide 6 serves as means for supporting the shaft in an elevated position when the device is not used.

The parts being constructed as described, the operation is as follows: Ordinarily the shaft is elevated with the arm 9 turned to one side. As the car approaches the switch the motormau turns the shaft to bring the lug into the guide-groove and then depresses the same to throw the plowbetween the main and guide rails. As the plow reaches the end of the tongue the motorman turns the shaft on its axis to throw the point of the plow to the side upon which the tongue is situated and toward which it is to be swung. This causes the forward sharpened end of the plow to enter between the tongue and the side of the frog, and after it has so entered the plow throws the tongue to the other side of the frog. The shaft is then released to allow the spring to elevate the same to an inoperative position.

It will be understood, of course, that the spring can be omitted, since the shaft and its accompanying parts are light enough to be easily elevated by the motorman without interfering with his other duties.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a car, of an upright longitudinallymovable shaft, and a plow tapered at its front edge and pivoted atsaid front edge by means of an upright pivot at the lower end of said shaft, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a car, of an upright longitudinally-movable shaft, a rearwardly-extending arm at the lower end of said shaft, and a plow pivoted to the rear end portion of said arm, said plow being tapered at its front edge and being pivoted to said arm at its forward end portion.

3. The combination with a car provided with an upright guide having a guide-groove, of a shaft situated within said guide and pro vided with a lug to pass through and beyond the ends of said guide-groove, a rearwardlyextending arm at the lower end of said shaft,

and a plow having a tapered front edge piv- 

